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World Cup: Deschamps is ready 20 years on to bring joy to nation again

Thuram, left, and Deschamps on top of the world after the final in 1998DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images

The Times, July 14 2018, 12:01am

Tomorrow I shall pull on a France shirt, gather with friends in front of the television and, I hope, celebrate when we become world champions for a second time. I am confident that it is going to be a very special day.

Do not think for a second that the team of 1998 have anything other than full support, and hope, for this squad. I was talking to Lilian Thuram just the other day about how much we would love this generation to have the success we experienced.

There are a few very good reasons for that. First, all the benefits it brings to France in general: the joy to so many people, the feelgood factor that comes from millions of people sharing in that…

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